Posts from — February 2008

I think “The Great Debaters” is a great movie, but found Pride much more heart warming. Based on a true story of a black swim coach teaches inner city kids to swim and eventually win a national championship. Starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac, the movie seems rushed at times and uses a number of cliche’s. Beyond the technical fast story line issues, the substance of what it took these young men and women to overcome racism and poverty, is remarkable. A must see in my list.

Left my cell phone in my car, went to parking lot to get it, and found that I didn’t even lock my car doors. I am treading lightly for the rest of the day.

On top of all of that, It’s my anniversary…..

"I want a bottle of wine that tastes like you, and a glass that's never empty."

    " Max, from the film, A Good Year"

    Romantic thoughts I should say more often to Mommy Bacchus 

The other week I joked about this being one of the few shows I would watch during the writer’s strike, but have now found that my oldest son loves the show. He gets into some of the Gladiator personalities and has claimed that powerball is his favorite event.

I have to admit that as a teenager in the 80’s I watched the show every time it was on. Maybe I didn’t notice how cheesy it was back then, but I have found several problems with the current version.

• The Contender Comments before and after each event seem so scripted.
• Couldn’t they find a ref who shows some semblance of athletic ability. His gut is bigger than mine.
• What’s up with Ms. Ali’s wardrobe. She’s a stunning lady, so please give her some sense of fashion and stop making her look like a jock in a dress.
• We need more personality from the female Gladiators. Other than Helga, the rest look like robots.
• Hulk Hogan, love your enthusiasm, but he has more than the competitors. Let’s take it down a notch.

So, those are my thoughts and we look forward to the finals next week.

Today I’m loving them for their Premium Iced-Coffee. While working in New York city in the summer months as an intern I was indoctrinated into the wonders of iced-coffee during the hot afternoon breaks. For the longest time Dunkin Donuts was my favorite spot, but after moving to Texas I have gone without. So today I tried the Mickey Dee’s version and was pleasantly surprised.

See my other McDonald’s Rants here: Premium Coffee#1 and Premium Coffee#2

I just realized that last weekend was the first weekend in about a couple of months that no one in the Bacchus family was sick, throwing up, had fever, runny nose, or leaking any other bodily fluid.  Sunday was the first time that all four of us were in the same car at the same time…..Now that is Golden.

At least until next weekend.

Or should I ask, do you know where the closest public library is? I have to admit that it's been years since I walked into a public library, but that's all changed for me now.

Ok, your a parent with a school aged child and you have never taken them to the library.  Shame on all of us for not utilizing this vast resource that costs nothing for admission.   Although BJ (Bacchus Junior) has taken trips to the library with his pre-school, he and I have never gone together until recently. Since I love bookstores and had forgotten how much I enjoyed the library as a kid, it was time for me to get back that excitement I used to have.  When I was in middle-school, the library to me was like the internet is to most kids today.  You could find whatever you wanted and then some, on any topic you could think of.  There were maps, movies, pictures, art displays, puppet shows and all kinds of things happening at the local library in my neighborhood.  Some how the public library has lost its appeal and probably needs a good PR person to pump up the image. 

During the Christmas holidays, BJ and I visited our local library several times and now we go about every two weeks. Since I was staying home with him during the school break, I needed a list of things to do during the day besides watch TV and movies (See my list of things to do with your child on a rainy day ).  It took a couple of visits to get used to where everything was and what sections BJ likes to visit first, but now he goes directly to his beginner reading section and immediately asks me how books can he get.  I take my place at one of the catalog computers (yes, I remember having to use the card catalog system) and search for books that I or BJ may be interested in.  By the time I'm finished searching, he has brought a pile of books to the table and we go sit somewhere and I review which ones are appropriate for his reading level.  I usually tell him he can get pick three books out and allow him to talk me into a fourth.  I have been working on teaching him how to make persuasive arguments so this part of the conversation is very important to us.  If he makes a good case for a book that is obviously above his reading level, I allow him to obtain another one. In his argument he usually points out the pictures or content that make the book a good candidate.

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Suburban Daddy has a nice poll about parenting that I encourage you to take. See my comment for how I voted.
Parenting Poll Of The Week

“I got a lot to say and not a lot of time to say it, so shut up and listen.”

“Ed Bacchus”

 

No, I really don’t say this, but I think it a lot.

Visit AA Dad’s site and see, I am not alone.  “Sometimes you have to dance like no one’s watching.

AFRICAN AMERICAN DAD » DANCING WITH THE DEV